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}}</ref> It is also normally understood that a state is neither dependent on nor subject to any other power or state.<ref>See the following:

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The existence or disappearance of a state is a question of fact.<ref name="Lalonde2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=book
}}</ref> While according to the declarative theory of statehood a sovereign state can exist without being recognised by other sovereign states, unrecognised states will often find it hard to exercise full treaty-making powers and engage in diplomatic relations with other sovereign states.